Menstrual cycle indicating device



July 12, 1949. J. B. LANCASTER MENSTRUAL CYCLE INDICATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1946 INVEN TOR.

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Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to indicating devices, and-more particularly to menstrual cycle indicating devices based upon the. rhythm theory.

The menstrual cycles of, women vary in length, for different individuals, from 20 to 50 days, and even for a particular individual, may vary in length over arrange of several days.

According, to the rhythm theory, the ovulation time in. women occurs from fourteen to sixteen days before the first day ofv the next menstruation. Theovum is susceptible to-fertilization for a period of twelve hours. The male sperm is active and effective for a period of forty-eight hours, so that in calculatingthe fertile time these two days are prefixed to the three days when ovulation may take place, and since ovulation may occur late in the day, the dayfollowing is added, giving a total of six days.

The rhythm theory as set forth by Drs. Ogino and Knaus adds one day additional at the beginning and end of these six days giving a total of eight days.

Should-the length of the cycle vary, the length of the fertile period will vary in like manner. The first day of the fertile period is thus taken as beginning nineteen days before the first day upon which the ensuing menstruation falls due, and ending on the twelfth day before the last day upon which the ensuing menstruation falls due.

The ordinary calendar months have either thirty or thirty-one days, except for February.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed for collating the variable in determining the fertile period, but most of these are so complicated aswto prevent their use by any but highly skilled persons.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a menstrual cycle calendar which i :v simple to operate and which may be employed by physicians and others for determining the fertile period.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a menstrual cycle calendar which may be adapted for individual use.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide a menstrual cycle calendar which may be utilized for a fixed length of menstrual cycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a menstrual cycle calender which may be utilized, for afixed variable length of menstrual cycle.

Other objects and advantageous features will be apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formin part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of a preferred embodiment of a menstrual cycle calendar in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional'view taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a disc or dial em: ployed with the calendars shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in .the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the menstrual cycle, calendar in accordance with the present invention includes a top. or face plate It and a bottom or rear plate I2, of paperboard or of Celluloid, or other synthetic plastic sheet material. The plates I0 and I2 are preferably each of substantially rectangular shape and are secured together in any suitable manner, such as by rivets 9 located at the corners.

Interposed between the plates I0 and I2 a calendar disc or dial II is provided, pivotally mounted with respect to the plates I0 and II by a rivet 8' which extends through a central opening 8a inthe disc or dial I I.

The plates I0 and I2, are preferably cut away along one edge thereof, as at I3, for manual actuation and adjustment of the disc or dial II.

The disc or dial II, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, is provided with an, inner circularly arranged row of indicia I4, divided into sixty-one parts and having the numeral 31 in thirty-one of the parts and the numeral'30 in thirty of the arts. The disc or dial II is also provided with an outer circularly arranged row of indicia I5, also divided into sixty-one parts and alined with the parts of the row of indicia I4. The indicia I 5 consist of two consecutive series of numbers, the first from 1 to 30,'inclus ive, and the second from 1 to 31, inclusive. The first series is preferably arranged so that the numbers from 1 to- 15, inclusive, are alined with 30s and with the numbers from 16 to 30, inclusive, alined with 31s. The second series is arranged sequentially in the remaining spaces. The spaces in which the respective series are disposed are preferably colored differently to further facilitate the use of the calendar.

The top or face plate In may be provided, preferably at the central portion of one side edge, with a space 6 for marking, in pencil, the first day of menstruation and the space 5 may be designated, as shown, with suitable identifying legends.

The top or face plate Ill may also be provided, preferably along one side edge, with a column I for recording, in pencil, the initial date or length of successive menstrual periods for reference, and the column 1 may be designated, as shown, with suitable identifying legends.

The top or face plate In is provided with a window 2 which may be an opening or transparent portion, as desired, with which one of the indicia I4 is adapted to be alined, upon movement of the disc or dial I I. The window 2 preferably has a suitable identifying legend adjacent thereto on the top or face plate Ill.

The top or face plate Ill is also provided adjacent the space 6, and the accompanying legend, with a window I, which may be an opening or transparent portion, as desired, and with which a selected one of the indicia I5 is adapted to be alined when one of the indicia I4 is alined with the window 2.

The top or face plate I is also provided with a window 3 or 3a, which may be an opening. The window 3 is located with respect to the window I so as to display at the window 3 a date indication which corresponds to a date in advance of the date indication at the window I by the number of days in the cycle of the particular individual. Thus, on Fig. 1, the date indication at the window 3 for a twenty-eight day cycle is twenty-eight days in advance of the date indication at the window I.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the window 3a is provided for a variable cycle. In the specific instance shown, for a cycle ranging from twenty-eight to thirty-one days in length, the window 3a is located and shaped that it comprehends a four day period in the proper advance from the window I, for the display of the date indications of the indicia I5.

The windows 3 and 3a preferably have displayed adjacent thereto, as shown, a suitable identifying legend.

The top or face plate I0 is also provided with a window 4, which may be an opening or transparent portion, as desired. The window 4 is preferably located with respect to the windows I and 3 so as to display a selected portion of the indicia I5, corresponding to the fertile period for the specific menstrual cycle. This period, as previously indicated, is eight days in length. The particular portion thereof which corresponds to the probably date of ovulation is specially designated by a projecting portion 5 along one of the marginal edges of the window 4. The window 4 preferably has an accompanying identifying legend, as shown, on the top or face plate I0.

For cycles of variable length, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a window 4a is provided, located in the same manner as the window 4, but with a projecting portion 5a of longer length attendant upon the variation. With a variable cycle the period of ovulation is of wider range and, for a variation of four days in the length of the cycle, also varies the same length. The possible fertile period is correspondingly longer.

The mode of use of the menstrual cycle calen dar will now be pointed out.

Referring first to Fig. 1, which, as heretofore indicated, illustrates the application of the invention to a twenty-eight day cycle, if the present month has thirty days, the dial II is turned, it being accessible for this purpose at the cutaway portion I3 of the front and rear plates I0 and I2, so that the numeral 30 is displayed at the window 2. Assuming further that the first day of menstruation, which may be taken as the first day of the cycle, is the 21 day of the present month, the dial II is turned so that with 30 displayed at the window 2, 21 is displayed at the window I. This then causes 19 to be displayed at the window 3, indicating that the beginning of the next cycle should occur on the nineteenth day of the following month. At the same time, the fertile period is indicated at the window 4, with the probable day of ovulation opposite the indicator 5. A similar procedure is followed for any other desired dates. The requisite information, for a specific cycle, is thus readily made available without the necessity for special skill or ability to interpret complicated data on the part of the user.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the mode of operation of the embodiment there shown is very similar. In this instance, a thirty-one day month is assumed for the present month and the first day of menstruation is assumed as the seventeenth day of the present month. With 31 displayed at window 2 and IT at window I, the variable range within which the next cycle should start is displayed at the window 3a, with the fertile period displayed at the window 4a. A similar procedure is followed for any other desired dates.

The spaces 6 and I are available for notations as to the first day of menstruation and for the initial date or length of successive menstrual periods.

If the present month happens to be February, then the disc or dial II is turned so that 30 is displayed at the window 2 and the proper initial date of the cycle is displayed at the window I. The indication at the window 3 or 3a, and at the window l or 4a, if 29 or 30 should appear is read as 1 or 2 for years in which February has twenty-eight days, or 30 is read as 1 for years in which February has twenty-nine days.

For any dates beyond 30 at the windows 3 or 3a and 4 or do two or one are added thereto in accordance with the number of days in February for the particular year.

I claim:

1. In a menstrual cycle indicating device for a predetermined length of menstrual cycle, a top plate of sheet material, a disc, means for pivotally mounting said disc with respect to said top plate, said disc having a circular portion concentric with said mountin means and divided into sixtyone equal spaces, said spaces each having an identifying number in the sequence from 1 to 30 and continuing from 1 to 31, said spaces each also having an additional identifying number consisting of the number 30 in thirty of said spaces and the number 3 in thirty-one of said spaces, a plurality of angularly spaced windows in said top plate for the simultaneous display of critical dates of the menstrual cycle, one of said windows being disposed for display of the number 30 or the number 31 corresponding to the number of days in a particular month, another of said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the particular month at which the first day of menstruation occurs, and another of said windows being disposed for the display of the dates of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle.

2. In a menstrual cycle indicating device for a predetermined length of menstrual cycle, a top plate of sheet material, a disc, means for pivotally mounting said disc with respect to said top plate, said disc having a circular portion concentric with said mounting means and divided into sixtyone equal spaces, said spaces each having an identifying number in the sequence from 1 to 30 and continuing from. to 31, said spaces each also having an additional identifying number consisting of the number 30 in thirty of said spaces and the number 31 in thirty-one of said spaces, a plurality of angularly spaced windows in said top plate for the simultaneous display of critical dates of the menstrual cycle, one of said windows being disposed for display of the number 30 or the number 31 corresponding to the number of days in a particular month, another of said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the particular month at which the first day of menstruation occurs, and another of said windows being disposed for the display of the dates of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle, said last window having an indicating portion for indicating the probable date of ovulation.

3. In a menstrual cycle indicating device for a predetermined length of menstrual cycle, a top plate of sheet material, a disc, means for pivotally mounting said disc with respect to said top plate, said disc having a circular portion concentric with said mounting means and divided into sixtyone equal spaces, said spaces each having an identifying number in the sequence from 1 to 30 and continuing from 1 to 31, said spaces each also having an additional identifying number consisting of the number 30 in thirty of said spaces and the number 31 in thirty-one of said spaces, a plurality of angularly spaced windows in said top plate for the simultaneous display of critical dates of the menstrual cycle, one of said windows being disposed for display of the number 30 or the number 31 corresponding to the number of days in a particular month, another of said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the particular month at which the first clay of menstruation occurs, another of said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the next day or days for the commencement of the next menstruation, and another of said windows being disposed between said last two mentioned windows for the display of the dates of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle.

4. In a menstrual cycle indicating device for a predetermined length of menstrual cycle, a top plate of sheet material, a disc, means for pivotally mounting said disc with respect to said top plate, said disc having a circular portion concentric with said mounting means and divided into sixtyone equal spaces, said spaces each having an identifying number in the sequence from 1 to 30 and continuing from 1 to 31, said spaces each also having an additional identifying number consisting of the number 30 in thirty of said spaces and the number 31 in thirty-one of said spaces, a plurality of angularly spaced windows in said top plate for the simultaneous display of critical dates of the menstrual cycle, one of said windows being disposed for display of the number 30 or the number 31 corresponding to the number of days in a particular month, another of said windows bein disposed for the display of the date of the particular month at which the first day of menstruation occurs, another oi said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the next day or days for the commencement of the next menstruation, and another of said windows being disposed between said last two mentioned windows for the display of the dates oi the fertile period of the menstrual cycle, said last window having an indicating portion for indicating the probable date of ovulation.

5. In menstrual cycle indicating device for a predetermined length oi menstrual cycle, a top plate of sheet material, a disc, means for pivotally mounting said disc with respect to said top plate, said disc having a circular portion concentric with said mounting means and divided into sixtyone equal spaces, said spaces each having an identifying number in the sequence from 1 to 30 and continuing from 1 to 31, said spaces each also having an additional identifying number consisting of the number 30 in thirty of said spaces and the number 3 in thirty-one of said spaces, a plurality of angularly spaced win-- dows in said top plate for the simultaneous display of critical dates of the menstrual cycle, one of said windows being disposed for display of the number 30 or the number 31 corresponding to the number of days in a particular month, another of said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the particular month at which the first day of menstruation occurs, another of said windows being disposed for the display of the date of the next day or days for the commencement of the next menstruation, and another of said windows being disposed between said last two mentioned windows for the display of the dates of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle, and identifying indicia on said top plate for each of said windows.

JOHN B. LANCASTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,214,935 Lundberg Feb. 6, 1917 2,006,485 Segal July 2, 1935 2,015,805 Means et al. Oct. 1, 1935 2,049,038 Anderson July 28, 1936 2,076,242 Marquis Apr. 6, 1937 2,127,612 Murguia Aug. 23, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 826,269 France Mar. 28, 1938 

